Happy Friday.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Hypocrisy

Happy Friday.

Hypocrisy seems to be the theme of the current administration. A "do as we say not as we do" mentality pervades throughout. Perhaps nowhere is this approach more pronounced -- and more despicable -- than in the right's treatment of gays and lesbians:

  • The right believes in states' rights except a state's right to condone homosexual marriage.
  • The right believes courts should not legislate but insists on only appointing judges who subscribe to their social agenda.
  • The right believes in the freedom not to associate to keep leaders out of the Boy Scouts except when schools use the same freedom to keep the military off their campus.
  • The right believes in individual choices except when those choices take place in the privacy of one's bedroom.
  • The right believes in families except when it comes to acknowledging gays and lesbians in their own family.
  • The right believes in limited government except when it comes to legislating morals.

"Just How Gay Is The Right?" details the brutal, incessant attack against the gay and lesbian community in America. An attack that manifests itself in the denial of AIDS prevention education in our schools, in the appointment of extremists to the federal bench, in the equating of homosexuality to terrorism, and in an aggressive campaign of lies and slander.

The right's approach to the war in Iraq, deficit spending, social security, Medicare and the rest are policy choices subject to reasonable debate. The right's vilification of a class of Americans is without any legitimate defense.

Going on vacation. Many Happy Fridays until my return.

Friday, May 13, 2005

The Truth About the Estate Tax

Happy Friday.

Although not a hot ticket item these days (at least not compared to "Runaway Brides") the Estate Tax remains under assault by the current administration. Their spin mischaracterizes it as the "death tax" and disingenuously claims that it hurts small businesses and farms.

In truth, the estate tax is highly progressive--almost 99% of the tax is paid by the wealthiest 5% of the population. Only estates valued at over $1.5 million dollars are subject to the tax. And, contrary to the spin, only about 0.5% of small businesses and farms face estate tax liability. Simply put, it is a tax on the very wealthy who place less value on their last marginal dollar than the average American earner.

Remarkably, moreover, lowering the estate tax risks reducing philanthropic giving by as much as $15 billion a year!

Of course, in light of all this, the current administration plans to eliminate the estate tax to protect its wealthy base.

In "Options for Reforming the Estate Tax," the authors provide sensible reforms for the estate tax to maintain its progressive impact, protect the revenue stream it generates (in the face of an historic deficit), and promote charitable giving. Especially important considerations in the face of tax and spend republicans.

Friday, May 06, 2005

Another Boon for Big Pharma

Happy Friday.

Hypocrites. It seems the "free market" ideal so often praised by republicans is uniquely employed when it benefits businesses, not consumers. I know, no one is surprised.

But, it's twice as bad when the government is not only sacrificing consumers' interests, but also its own leveling a double blow against the average American Jane and Joe whom it's supposed to be representing.

By example, the 2003 Medicare legislation prohibits the government from negotiating for the best price with Big Pharma. That's right, Medicare cannot leverage its purchasing power to provide less expensive drugs to the elderly. Congress wouldn't allow it. The cost: $8.7 trillion.

And it gets worse:

A Serious Drug Problem.

Here's to your health....